MANILA – A member of the National Task Force against COVID-19 expressed optimism on the plan of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to resume its 2020 Philippine Cup next month via a bubble format in Clark, Pampanga.
Testing czar Vivencio Dizon said the “PBA bubble” beginning Oct. 9 at the Angeles University Foundation gym will serve as a symbol for the country’s shift to the new normal.
“Kailangan simulan ang dahan-dahan ang ekonomiya, kailangan makabalik sa trabaho. Tingin ko ang PBA bubble ay magiging malaking simbolo papunta sa ‘new normal’,” Dizon said in a Palace briefing on Friday.
“Malaking bagay ito para sa mga kababayan natin dahil ang past time ng mga Pilipino ay basketball,” he cited.
Dizon said the PBA will present its proposal to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of the Emerging Infectious Diseases next week.
In Thursday’s virtual presser, PBA chairman Ricky Vargas said the league is targeting its restart on Oct. 9 where two games will be played daily until the playoffs round.
Tournament format will be single-round robin elimination. Top four teams after the elimination have a twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals against the fifth to eighth team. Semifinals will be best-of-five and finals will be best-of-seven.
The 94-78 victory of defending champions San Miguel Beermen over Magnolia Hotshots during the opening day of the Philippine Cup last March 8 will count in the team standings./PN
